Hammerson gets green light for Highcross redevelopment

The Highcross in Leicester

Hammerson has been given the go-ahead by Leicester County Council to complete a “major reconfiguration” of the former House of Fraser unit at Highcross shopping centre in the city.

The redevelopment will bring larger stores and new brands. Three units have already been let, including larger stories from Zara and JD Sports and one new name for the city, Treetop Adventure Golf.

Works are expected to complete in the second half of 2018.

The former outlet store is spread over three floors, totalling around 100,000 sq ft. As part of the reconfiguration the space will be divided into eight new individual units of varying floorspace to accommodate a range of operators including retail, food and beverage and leisure.

International fashion brand, Zara, will anchor the refurbished St Peter’s Square entrance, doubling the size of its existing unit to create a 35,520 sq ft flagship store. The new, enlarged store will enable the global fashion brand to offer its full range of womenswear, menswear, shoes and accessories.

JD Sports will also significantly increase its store footprint at Highcross, expanding into a 20,451 sq ft unit.

Anchoring the leisure offer at Highcross, Treetop Adventure Golf will make its Leicester debut. The indoor mini golf operator has signed up to take a 18,300 sq ft unit, marking the group’s second shopping centre location.

Peter Cooper, director UK Shopping Centres at Hammerson, said, “The planning approval marks a major milestone in the enhancement of Highcross, allowing us to put in place new flagships and concepts and create a fresh and relevant tenant mix. The plans also provide an opportunity to improve the entrance at St Peter’s Square, enhancing its link to the High Street in addition to breathing new life into the surrounding shopping streets.

“We are delighted to confirm upsized Zara and JD Sports stores, testament to the strength of the centre as the leading regional retail destination. The news reflects a wider trend within the retail industry in which we are seeing international brands prioritise large, flagship stores in key regional destinations. And with the addition of Treetop Adventure Golf, Highcross will soon offer a unique leisure experience to complement its leading mix of retail.

“Leicester City Council has been invaluable in supporting this project, which will enable Leicester to position itself as one of the best regional retail destinations in the UK and deliver a unique shopping environment where more happens.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close